Standing Committees of Council

Time:
Members meet as needed.

Mandate:
The Committee shall provide broad review and recommendations to Council via the Academic Policy and Planning Committee of all proposals received from Graduate Programs with respect to New Course Proposals, Course Change Proposals, Minor Changes to Program/Graduate Diploma Academic Requirements, Major Modifications to Program/Graduate Diploma Academic Requirements, New Graduate Fields, New Graduate Diplomas and New Graduate Degree Programs. 

The Graduate Program Committee shall consist of:

• Associate Dean – Research & Graduate Education (ex officio)
• Graduate Program Director (or designate who must be a member of the graduate program) of each Graduate Program in the Faculty of Science
• One graduate student member from any Graduate Program within the Faculty of Science
• One full-time faculty member from the Faculty of Health or Lassonde School of Engineering who is appointed to teach in any FSc graduate program
• A member at large with knowledge of graduate programming, and experience with curriculum approvals at the Faculty-level.

Current Members:

The Chair of the Committee is selected by the voting members of the Committee for a one-year term.
V. Saridakis, Associate Dean - Research & Graduate Education, ex officio
J. Paluzzi, Department of Biology (term until 2026)
R. Hili, Department of Chemistry (term until 2026)
A. Muzzin, Department of Physics & Astronomy (term until 2026)
P. Ingram, Department of Mathematics & Statistics (term until 2026)
VACANT, Member from Faculty of Health OR Lassonde
D. Golemi-Kotra, Member at Large (term until 2026)
Joe Tran, Graduate Student Representative (term until 2025)

Chair: Ryan Hili
Secretary: Joanna Sequeira

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Graduate Curriculum Toolkit

Minor Modifications

Governance Process for Minor Changes to Existing Graduate Programs

1. Department-level committee
2. Graduate Committee
3. Faculty Council
4. Academic Standards, Curriculum, and Pedagogy Committee (ASCP)

Governance Process for New Course Proposals, Changes to Existing Courses and Retired Courses

1. Department-level committee
2. FGS (for information, not formal approval)
3. Graduate Committee
4. Faculty Council

Minor modifications are curriculum proposals dealing with courses or less substantive changes to existing degree programs or certificates. There are two types of minor modifications: (1) detailed minor modification, and (2) standard minor modification. A detailed minor modification is a modification to a program or degree option that does not rise to the level of a major modification but the modification may have a broad impact, require consultation across units/groups, and/or include substantial changes to an existing program option established through a major modification (e.g., minor, graduate specialization, option, certificate, or WIL option). A standard minor modification is a modification to a program or degree option that does not rise to the level of a major modification or a detailed minor modification and that can be handled at the Faculty-level.

New Course Proposals, Course Expiries, and Change to Existing Course proposals are acknowledged by FGS before being reviewed by the Graduate Education Committee. Once approved at Graduate Education Committee, course-based proposals are placed on the consent agenda of Faculty Council for final approval. Minor Change to Existing Degree or Certificate proposals are reviewed by the Faculty's Graduate Education Committee and are included as items for action (i.e. requiring a motion and a vote) on the regular agenda of Faculty Council before proceeding to Senate.

Minor modifications forms:

• New Graduate Course Proposal Form
• Graduate Course Change Proposal Form (DOCX)
• Change to Graduate Program/Graduate Diploma Academic Requirements Proposal Form
• Curriculum Consultation (DOCX)
• Graduate Field Proposal (DOC)

* Please note that Change to Existing Program proposals may require a curriculum map, as outlined by the York University Quality Assurance Procedures.

New Programs

Governance Process for New Programs and Program Closures

1. Dean and VPA sign Notice of Intent
2. Unit-level approval of full proposal
3. Graduate Education Committee
4. Academic Policy & Planning Committee (APPC in FSc)
5. Faculty Council
6. Academic Standards, Curriculum & Pedagogy Committee (ASCP)
7. Academic Policy, Planning & Research Committee (APPRC)
8. Senate
9. Quality Council (PDF)

Major modifications involve substantial changes to existing programs due to curricular renewal, program restructuring, program mergers and proposals for new programs.

Program Closure The protocol for a program closure includes the closure of degrees, diplomas, and certificates. Examples of reasons for program closures include:

• low enrolment
• changes in academic programs
• poor program quality whether articulated in cyclical reviews or determined solely by the institution.

Please visit the Program Closure page for further details.

Major Modification to Existing Programs

Governance Process for Change to Existing Programs

1. Dean and VPA sign Notice of Intent
2. Unit-level approval of full proposal
3. Graduate Education Committee
4. Academic Policy & Planning Committee (APPC in FSc)
5. Faculty Council
6. Academic Standards, Curriculum & Pedagogy Committee (ASCP)
7. Academic Policy, Planning & Research Committee (APPRC)
8. Senate

Major modifications to existing programs typically involve at least one of the following:

• Significant changes to program requirements
• Merger of two or more programs.
• Significant changes to the learning outcomes of an existing program
• Significant changes to the faculty complement delivering an existing program
• Change to the essential resources of a program that impair its delivery.

Please visit the Major Modification: Templates and Guidelines page for further details.

Proposal Timelines/Deadlines

Curriculum proposals must receive Senate approval by April 30 in order to be published in the Faculty of Graduate Studies Calendar for that upcoming academic year. Graduate Program Directors and Graduate Diploma Coordinators will be contacted by FGS in the winter term to confirm Calendar copy. Requested changes outside of the Calendar timeline will be assessed for feasibility where possible.

If you are unsure whether a proposed change constitutes a major or minor modification, please contact the Associate Dean – Student Affairs, Michael Scheid, for additional clarification. In ambiguous cases, the York University Quality Assurance Protocol stipulates that the Office of the Vice-Provost, Academic decides which template and process proponents should use.